By Dr.Paul Bundi Karau
One of the daily challenges we all face is; we have loads of work to do, but little time and depleting energy levels. At Alliance Girls High School, the recurring question from form four students was; I want to accomplish a lot, but there is very little time remaining. How can I do that? How can I maintain focus? Distractions, says Chris Winfield, inhibit your ability to totally immerse yourself in a subject, and in a state of flow.
The Pomodoro Technique helps you focus and better utilize your mind. It is built upon four basic principles.
1. Work with time, not against it: We spend our precious lives racing against deadlines, at a frenetic pace. This breeds fatigue and aversion for what we do. Using this technique, you work with the available time, not against it.
2. Eliminate burnout: Short power breaks ensure that you replenish energy levels quickly and go back to work. This aspect of Pomodoro Technique ensures you also take a ‘deep breath’, which is known to replenish your brain energy levels and enhance your concentration.
3. Manage distractions: This technique makes you engaged in one, and only one task at a time.
4. Avoid procrastination: By gnawing on your work small bits at a time, you eliminate the guilt and negative energy that comes with procrastination. You achieve your high priority tasks and in the process, enjoy yourself.
How the Pomodoro Technique works
The technique involves following simple principles. Yes, they appear simple, but are effective, and have been validated scientifically. This process is predicated on the fact that you will adhere to the basic principles long enough to create a habit.
For students, you need a clear time-table. The technique comes into play whenever you sit down to execute what’s indicated in the time-table at any specific time. It could be a subject like biology, chemistry or mathematics. First, you must have arranged your topics/objectives beforehand; for instance, let’s say you intend to study locomotion in animals. You have outlined the sub-topics and have clearly set the objectives you must meet during the next one hour. There, the Pomodoro kicks in as follows:
1. Choose a task: Select one task ONLY. Clear your desk of any clatter, and only have the book you intend to read (and a notebook for rough-work, doodling)
2. Set a timer for 25 minutes: The aim is not to finish a big task. The aim is to go as far as you can with as much focus as possible. You mustn’t cover an entire topic in one Pomodoro.
3. Work on your task until the timer rings, then pause: You have had 25 minutes of intense concentration. No distractions. No emails. No facebook. Precious time. Yes, you may not have covered much, but you have covered something WELL.
4. Take a 5 minute break: Go out. Stretch! Take a deep breath! Practice breathing exercises.
You have done one POMODORO!
Repeat steps 1-4 three more times, followed by a 15 minute break.
Example of a Pomodoro Tracking Sheet for a high schooler
Date: 10th Feb 2017
Task Number of Pomodoros
Read phrasal verbs XX
Finish reading biology chapter on ecology
X
Write one composition XX
Do practice exercises on mathematical vectors
XXX
The number of Pomodoros available to you DEPENDS on the time you have and other school activities you have to attend to. For instance, in the above tracking sheet, the student has 8 Pomodoros. This means he has approximately TWO and HALF hours to study in a day. You can evidently see how much ground one can cover by employing this simple technique!
In the next post, I borrow from renowned motivational blogger Chris Winfield on how to MAXIMIZE YOUR WORK DAY, while maintaining favourable energy levels.
If you have questions on this technique, leave your comments below and I will be happy to engage with you!
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